March 18, 2025 • 26 mins
Journalists from around the state discuss the news of the week with host Bill Bryant, including several bills passed by the House and Senate during the General Assembly. Guests: Jess Clark, Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting; Mario Anderson, Spectrum News 1; and Tessa Duvall, Lexington Herald-Leader.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:04):
[♪♪]
>> Bill (00:07):
THE LAST FULL WEEK OF
THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
SENDS DOZENS OF BILLS TO THE
GOVERNOR'S DESK FOR A SIGNATURE
OR VETO.
COULD ANTI-D.E.I. LEGISLATION BE
AMONG THE BILLS THE GOVERNOR
TRIES TO STOP?
A BILL BANNING PHONES IN
CLASSROOMS IS AMONG A SLEW OF
ACTIONS THAT COULD IMPACT
SCHOOLS.
(00:28):
IN WASHINGTON THOMAS MASSIE
VOTES AGAINST AN EFFORT TO KEEP
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RUNNING
AND CLASHES WITH PRESIDENT
TRUMP.
AND COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.
[♪♪]
(00:48):
GOOD EVENING I'M BILL
BRYANT.
WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON
KENTUCKY", A LOOK BACK AND SOME
ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN
THE COMMONWEALTH.
AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF
WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS
TONIGHT ARE, TESSA DUVALL,
POLITICS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
EDITOR FOR THE LEXINGTON
HERALD-LEADER.
JESS CLARK EDUCATION REPORTER
(01:10):
FOR THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING.
AND MARIO ANDERSON ANCHOR AND
HOST OF INFO KENTUCKY ON
SPECTRUM NEWS 1.
RIGHT TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION
WRAPPING UP THE FINAL FULL WEEK
BEFORE RETURNING TO ACT ON
VETOES THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR MAY
ISSUE.
AN ANTI-D.E.I. BILL MADE ITS WAY
THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE AND
(01:31):
REQUIRE COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES TO END DIVERSITY
PROGRAMS IN OFFICES BY JUNE
30TH.
THE DEBATES WERE SPIRITED.
>> THIS BILL SOLELY AIMS AT
UNCONSTITUTIONAL D.E.I.
INITIATIVES OFFICES AND OFFICERS
THAT PROMOTE OR PROVIDE
DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT OR
BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS ON THE
(01:51):
BASE OF RELIGION, RACE, COLOR,
SEX AND NATIONAL ORIGIN.
NOTHING BROADER ON THE CAMPUS.
>> LET'S MAKE NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
THIS BILL IS ABOUT RACE.
AND ABOUT HIS INTENTION TO
REALLY CHANGE THE COURSE OF
HISTORY.
WE WANT TO PUT ON THE FRONT DOOR
(02:14):
OF THESE PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES YOU
ARE NOT WELCOME.
APPLICATION DENIED.
TESSA, DEMOCRATIC
SENATOR ROBIN WEBB JOINED THE
REPUBLICANS IN VOTING FOR HOUSE
BILL 4 THE ANTI-D.E.I.
LEGISLATION.
OBVIOUSLY SOME PERSONAL DEBATE
(02:34):
AT TIMES IN THE CHAMBER.
>> RIGHT.
WE ALL KNEW THAT THIS WAS GOING
TO BE A MASSIVE PIECE OF
LEGISLATION TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT
FOR.
WE ALL REMEMBER IN 2024 THERE
WERE DUELING VERGES WHAT THE
ANTI-D.E.I. AND HIGHER-ED BILL
WOULD LOOK LIKE BETWEEN THE
HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND THE TWO
CHAMBERS COULD NOT COME TO AN
(02:55):
AGREEMENT ON THE BEST PATH
FORWARD.
AND THE 2024 SESSION CONCLUDED
WITHOUT THAT LEGISLATION.
WE KNEW IT WASN'T GOING TO
HAPPEN THAT WAY AGAIN THIS
SESSION.
AND YOU KNOW, IT IS SOMETHING
THAT IS DEEPLY PERSONAL TO A LOT
OF THESE LAWMAKERS.
AND YOU SEE AT THAT TIME
REFLECTED IN THE DEBATE.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT
(03:17):
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HAVE
ALREADY STARTED TO REACT TO THIS
LEGISLATION BECAUSE THEY KNEW IT
WAS COMING.
SO AFTER THE 24 SESSION, THE
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY CLOSED
DOWN ITS D.E.I. OFFICE, THE
PRESIDENT SAID HE WOULDN'T BE
MAKING ANYMORE STATEMENTS ABOUT
POLITICAL THINGS AND NORTHERN
KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY ALSO CLOSED
(03:37):
ITS OFFICE.
THEY KNEW IT WAS COMING AND
ACTED ACCORDINGLY.
SO WHAT WILL ACTUALLY CHANGE
WHEN THIS LAW GOES INTO EFFECT,
ASSUMING THAT IT DOES, REMAINS
TO BE SEEN.
BECAUSE A LOT OF UNIVERSITIES
ARE SAYING WE DON'T HAVE THOSE
OFFICES.
SO PRACTICALLY WHAT IT LOOKS
LIKE WE'RE WAITING TO SEE.
(03:58):
>> AND ALSO ROBIN WEBB SOME
CONSIDER HER AS A CONSERVATIVE
DEMOCRAT SHE HAS BROKEN FROM THE
DEMOCRATS AND VOTED WITH
REPUBLICANS ON VARIOUS ISSUES.
SHE IS FROM GREYSON BUT THE
SENATE DEMOCRATS THEY SENT OUT A
RELEASE AFTER THE VOTE WENT DOWN
SAYING THEY CONDEMN HOUSE BILL
4.
THEY CALLED IT A DIRECT ASSAULT
(04:19):
ON HIGHER EDUCATION, FREE SPEECH
AND KENTUCKY'S FUTURE.
AND THEN IN THE SENATE CHAMBER,
THE DEMOCRATTER LEADER, HE HAD
FILED 15 INDIVIDUAL FLOOR
AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL 4 TO
TRY TO FIND SOME TYPE OF
BIPARTISAN WORK THERE.
BUT ALL THOSE AMENDMENTS NONE OF
(04:39):
THEM WERE ADDED, OF COURSE.
SO.
HE KNEW HE COULD NOT
KILL IT WAS HE ATTEMPTING TO
MODERATE IT?
>> MODERATE IT AND AT ONE POINT
HE APPEARED WITH THE BILL'S
SPONSOR JENIFER DECKER WHEN SHE
WAS TESTIFYING AND AGAIN DURING
THAT PROCESS TRYING TO AGAIN,
FIGURE OUT SOME WAY TO WORK
(05:01):
TOGETHER IN SOME WAY.
BUT THEN IN THE SENATE CHAMBER
TRIED TO WORK WITH THE SENATE
FLOOR LEADER MAX WISE TO AGAIN
FIND COMMON GROUND IN SOME
CAPACITY.
BUT NONE OF THAT WAS HEARD.
AND THERE'S NO ADDITIONS MADE.
JESS, IT WILL BE
EFFECTIVE JUNE 30TH.
WILL IT SEND UNIVERSITIES
(05:22):
SCRAMBLING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
OFFICES OR EVEN LANGUAGE THEY
MAY HAVE TO ELIMINATE ON CAMPUS?
>> I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME
SCRAMBLING.
IT'S NOT REALLY CLEAR.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE DON'T
KNOW WHAT THE IMPACTS WILL BE
AND I THINK UNIVERSITIES ARE
STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
THE IMPACTS SHOULD BE.
ONE REASON IS THAT THE WAY
(05:43):
D.E.I. IS DEFINED IN THE BILL IS
NOT NECESSARILY HOW PEOPLE WHO
PRACTICE D.E.I. WOULD DEFINE IT.
AND SO THERE'S GOING TO BE
QUESTIONS ABOUT WELL DOES THIS
OFFICE DO D.E.I. OR DOES IT NOT?
AND YOU MENTIONED LANGUAGE.
I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY GOING
TO BE JUST A GENERAL KIND OF
(06:03):
SHYING AWAY FROM ANYTHING THAT
SAYS DIVERSITY, EQUITY OR
INCLUSION.
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY,
IF SOMEONE FILES A COMPLAINT
IT'S GOING TO BE THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL WHO IS GOING TO DECIDE
IF THIS COUNTS AS D.E.I. OR NOT.
SO I THINK UNIVERSITIES PROBABLY
WON'T WANT TO RISK IT.
>> AND ALSO TOO THERE'S
DISCUSSION ABOUT THE SENATE
ORGANIZATIONS AND THE VARIOUS
(06:24):
PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
THEY HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF THINGS
THAT COULD BE UNDER THAT
UMBRELLA OF D.E.I. TYPE OF
ORGANIZATIONS.
BUT THERE'S --
THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TAX DOLLARS
ARE NOT USED TO DO THE EVENTS ON
CAMPUS OR AWARENESS THINGS.
THAT IS SOMETHING TO WATCH.
IF THEY COLLECT A
(06:45):
STUDENT FEE WOULD THAT BRING
TUNDER THE LAW THAT IS A
QUESTION?
>> A QUESTION TO FIND OUT THE
ANSWER TO.
IT WOULD SEEM THAT
GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS GOING TO
VETO THIS MEASUREMENT HE HAS
SAID THIS WEEK THAT DIVERSITY IS
AN ASSET.
>> HE HAS AND HE MADE STATEMENTS
LIKE THAT LAST YEAR AS WELL IN
ANTICIPATION OF THIS LEGISLATION
(07:06):
REACHING HIS DESK.
I WOULD NOT BE SHOCKED IF THE
GOVERNOR VETOES THIS.
BUT WITH ANY BILL THAT HE VETOES
OVER THE VETO RECESS THEY CAN
CERTAINLY COME BACK AND OVERRIDE
THAT AND WITH THE COMMANDING 80%
SUPER MAJORITY IN FRANKFORT
REPUBLICANS WILL ALMOST
CERTAINLY DO JUST THAT.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL WATCH.
TIE THIS UP.
(07:27):
WHERE DOES IT SEEM TO GO ON
D.E.I.?
IT'S PASSED THE GOVERNOR VETOES
AND WE AWAIT THAT.
>> AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE FIRST
BILLS CALLED WHEN THE
LEGISLATURE RETURNS AT THE END
OF MARCH AND THEY MOVE QUICK
WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO
OFFER VETO OVERRIDES.
THE FAIRNESS CAMPAIGN
(07:48):
HELD A RALLY AND TOOK POSITIONS
AGAINST SOME BILLS INCLUDING ONE
TO REVERSE THE GOVERNOR'S BAN ON
CONVERSION THERAPY THAT BILL
BROUGHT CONTENTIOUS DEBATE TO
THE LEGISLATURE AS LIMITS ON
GENDER AFFIRMING HEALTHCARE WERE
ADDED TO THE HOUSE BILL.
>> WHAT YOU ARE DOING NOW, IS
DENYING LIFE-SAVING MEDICALLY
(08:08):
NECESSARY HEALTHCARE TO AN
UNTOLD NUMBER OF KENTUCKIANS
WITHOUT DEBATE.
THIS LATE IN THE GAME, BECAUSE
FOLKS DON'T WANT TO HAVE THIS
DEBATE.
>> GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S EXECUTIVE
ORDER THAT LIMITS THE FREE
SPEECH OF COUNSELORS ON THE
(08:28):
ISSUES OF GENDER AND SEXUALITY
SAYS THAT SAME THING.
IT SAYS TO COUNSELORS TO PASTORS
LIKE MYSELF, YOU CAN ONLY
COUNSEL IN ONE DIRECTION ON THIS
ISSUE.
I FAIL TO SEE HOW WE WOULD STAND
FOR SUCH A THING IN ANY OTHER
CONTEXT.
(08:49):
TESSA IS BESHEAR
SIGNALING A VETO THAT WOULD
REVERSE HIS BAN ON CONVERSION
THERAPY?
>> ALMOST CERTAINLY.
HE CAME OUT AGAINST THIS BILL.
IT DOES TWO THINGS.
THIS BILL REVERSES THE
GOVERNOR'S PREVIOUS EXECUTIVE
ORDER REGARDING CONVERSION
THERAPY AND NOT ALLOWING IT TO
(09:10):
BE PAID FOR WITH FEDERAL OR
STATE DOLLARS.
AND IT ALSO WAS COMMITTEE
SUBSTITUTE SO A CHANGE WAS MADE
IN MID-PROCESS TO ALSO BAR
MEDICAID DOLLARS FOR PAYING FOR
THINGS LIKE HORMONES FOR
TRANSGENDER ADULTS WHO RECEIVE
THEIR HEALTHCARE THAT WAY.
TWO DIFFERENT THINGS THIS BILL
DOES.
AND THE GOVERNOR ON THURSDAY
(09:31):
ATTACKED THIS BILL FROM A NUMBER
OF PERSPECTIVES.
HE SAID THAT CONVERSION THERAPY
IS EQUIVALENT TO TORTURE FOR THE
YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PUT
THROUGH IT.
AND IN REGARDS TO THE MEDICAID
PROVISION, HE SAID THAT WE
SHOULD LET DOCTORS MAKE MEDICAL
DECISIONS AND NOT POLITICIANS
WHO ARE GOING WITH THE WINDS OF
(09:52):
THE DAY.
AND HE ALSO SAID THAT
REPUBLICANS HAVE SPOKEN A LOT
ABOUT MEDICAL FREEDOM WHEN IT
COMES TO VACCINES AND THIS WOULD
SEEM TO BE HYPOCRITICAL AND NOT
IN ALIGNMENT WITH THAT STANCE.
AND HE ALSO TOOK ISSUE WITH THE
PROCESS OF THIS BILL TOOK THE
CURRENT FORM THAT IT IS IN.
AND THAT WAS WITH A COMMITTEE
(10:13):
SUBSTITUTE ONLY A FEW DAYS AGO.
THAT IS WHAT WE SAW IN ONE OF
THE CLIPS HOW THIS IS AN 11TH
HOUR CHANGE.
FOR ALL OF THESE REASONS THE
GOVERNOR SAID HE DOES NOT LIKE
THIS BILL.
SO, YES, IF I WERE TO BET I
WOULD SAY THIS IS ONE THAT IS
VETOED.
AND ONCE AGAIN, EASILY
OVERRIDDEN.
>> EASILY OVERRIDDEN.
(10:35):
MARIO HOUSE BILL 775
FILLED OUT A SHELL BILL IT IS A
SWEEPING MEASURE AND MAKE IT
EASIER TO CUT THE STATE INCOME
TAX.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS
INCLUDED IN THAT.
AND IT STARTED WHEN FILED AS A
FOUR-PAGE BILL BY THE
REPRESENTATIVE THERE AND
INITIALLY FOCUS TOWARDS THE
LOCAL AREA ALLOWING LOCAL TO
CREATE A SMALL TAX INCREMENT
(10:57):
FINANCING DISTRICT SIMILAR NEAR
THE KFC CENTER IN THAT AREA.
IT HAS TRANSFORMED INTO A
107-PAGE BILL WITH AMENDMENTS
INCLUDED.
BUT THE MAIN CRUX AS YOU
MENTIONED THERE'S NEW LANGUAGE
THAT WOULD ALLOW THE INDIVIDUAL
INCOME TAX RATE TO BE LOWERED
EVEN IF THE STATE DOESN'T HIT
THE BUDGET TRIGGERS IN LAW AT
(11:20):
SMALLER INCREMENTS.
IT CAUSED A LOT OF DEBATE IN
FRANKFORT AND HOW THAT PROCESS
WORKS.
BECAUSE IN 2022 WHEN THEY TAB
LISHED THE REQUIREMENTS ON HOW
THE TRIGGERS WOULD BE MET.
AND HOW THEY WOULD BE LOWERED.
AND NOW THIS NEW MEASURE AND
THIS AMENDMENTS TO THIS BILL
CHANGED THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
SOME FEEL IT'S NOT
(11:40):
BEING LOWERED FAST ENOUGH?
>> WELL, A LOT OF THE REPUBLICAN
LEADERS THEY WANT TO GET THE
INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX DOWN TO
ZERO AS FAST AS THEY CAN.
SO THIS IS ONE WAY THEY CAN BE
GO AHEAD AND PUSH FORWARD AND
NOT WAIT FOR THE TWO-YEAR CYCLE
AND GET IT DONE.
IT DOESN'T ELIMINATE
(12:00):
THE TRIGGERS BUT IT MAY MAKE IT
EASIER TO GET THROUGH THEM?
>> CORRECT.
JESS, A BILL BANNING
CELLPHONES IN CLASSROOMS PASSED.
WE KNOW MANY TEACHERS IN THE
STATE HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED BY
STUDENTS USING THEIR PHONES
WHILE THEY ARE TRYING TO TEACH.
>> YES.
IT IS A PROBLEM.
COMPETITION.
>> IT'S TOUGH COMPETITION.
(12:20):
YEAH.
SO THIS BILL WOULD REQUIRE
SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO HAVE
POLICIES IN PLACE THAT AT
MINIMUM BANS CELLPHONE USE
DURING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME UNLESS
THE TEACHER IS ALLOWING
CELLPHONE USE AS PART OF
INSTRUCTION.
SO A LOT OF DISTRICTS ALREADY
HAVE THESE POLICIES THIS IS JUST
AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THIS IS AN
(12:41):
ISSUE AND THE LAWMAKERS ARE LOOK
AT IT.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE INTERESTING
THING IN THIS BILL THERE'S ALSO
A PROVISION THAT REQUIRES SCHOOL
DISTRICTS TO FILTER SOCIAL MEDIA
SITES SO THAT STUDENTS ARE NOT
ABLE TO ACCESS SOCIAL MEDIA
WHILE NECESSARY IN SCHOOL.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT SCHOOLS
(13:02):
ALREADY DO FOR PORNOGRAPHY
SITES.
SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE
IF SCHOOL DISTRICT RESPECTABLE
TO IMPLEMENT THIS SO STUDENTS
CAN'T GET ON INSTAGRAM DURING
THE SCHOOL DAY.
OPENING THE DOOR FOR
LOCAL POLICY.
>> YES.
IT IS OPENING THE DOOR FOR A
LOCAL POLICY.
YES.
TESSA THE AGE IS
LOWERED TO 15 FOR A DRIVER'S
(13:23):
PERMIT ASSUMING THE GOVERNOR
SIGNS THAT AND INDICATIONS SHOW
THAT HE WILL.
IT ALIGNS KENTUCKY WITH OTHER
STATES AND WILL ALLOW YOUNG
PEOPLE TO GET THE JOBS?
>> RIGHT.
THE POINT WAS MADE DURING FLOOR
DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS BILL IS
THAT THERE ARE KIDS 15-YEAR-OLDS
FROM OTHER STATES WHO CAN COME
INTO KENTUCKY AND DRIVE ON OUR
(13:43):
ROADS LEGALLY.
BUT 15-YEAR-OLDS IN KENTUCKY
CANNOT DO THE SAME.
SO THIS IS BRINGING KENTUCKY
INTO ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER
STATES.
AND IT WOULD ALSO LOWER THE
LADIES AND AGE
THAT YOUNG FOLKS COULD GET THEIR
FULL LICENSE THEY COULD GET THE
JOBS SOONER.
(14:03):
HEMP DRINKS ARE GROWING
IN POPULARITY AND THERE IS A
STRONG EFFORT TO REGULATE THEM.
THERE WAS TALK OF BANNING THEM
BUT THIS BILL DOES NOT GO THAT
FAR?
>> SENATOR JULIE ROCKY ADAMS,
THE CHAIRWOMAN AND SAID IT IS AN
ATTEMPT TO PUT COMMON SENSE
PARAMETERS ON A FAST GROWING
MARKET AND THE LEGISLATION WOULD
(14:25):
CAP THE AMOUNT OF THC AT FIVE
MILLIGRAMS PER 12 OUNCE CANS AND
ALLOW RETAILORS TO SELL THE
DRINKS WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS UNTIL
JUNE.
BUT THEN THOSE DRINKS SALES THAT
HAPPEN IN BARS OR RESTAURANTS,
THE POTENTIALLY COULD BE BANNED.
BUT THE HEMP SUPPORTERS THEY SAY
THEY OPPOSE THIS BILL BECAUSE
(14:46):
THEY HAVE CONCERNS IT REQUIRE
THE RETAILORS THAT SELL THIS TO
GET LIQUOR LICENSES TO SELL THE
DRINKS WHICH THEY ARE NOT
PREPARED FOR BECAUSE IT WOULD
IMPACT 1300 STORES ACROSS
KENTUCKY.
NOT A SPECIFIC HEMP
DRINK LICENSE BUT THE LIQUOR
LICENSE.
>> CORRECT.
INTERESTING.
TESSA THERE WAS AN ABORTION
(15:07):
CLARIFICATION BILL THAT
SUPPORTERS SAID SOME MEDICAL
ISSUES REALLY NEEDED TO BE
SPELLED OUT.
>> RIGHT.
SO THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE
ISSUES SINCE ABORTION BECAME
ILLEGAL IN KENTUCKY THREE YEARS
AGO IS THAT THERE ARE CONDITIONS
THAT DO NOT IMMEDIATELY PUT THE
LIFE OF THE MOTHER AT RISK.
BUT THEY ARE STILL RISKY.
MY COLLEAGUES AT THE
(15:29):
HERALD-LEADER HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT
THOSE CONDITIONS.
WHERE A FETUS IS NOT VIABLE BUT
IT'S NOT IN IMMEDIATE
LIFE-THREATENING RISK TO THE
PREGNANT WOMAN.
AND SO THIS BILL ACCORDING TO
THE SPONSORS IS A RECOGNITION
THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THAT.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY IT WAS
PRESENTED AND PUSHED THROUGH BY
(15:51):
THREE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS
INCLUDING ONE WHO HAS BEEN
TRADITIONALLY OPPOSED TO ANY
ROLLING BACK OF ABORTION
LEGISLATION.
BUT IT IS SAYING THAT WE NEED TO
AND THIS IS THE HOW IT WAS SORT
OF PRESENTED BY SPONSORS WE NEED
TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN AN
ELECTIVE PROCEDURE AND A
(16:11):
MEDICALLY NECESSARY PROCEDURE.
AND THIS IS WHERE DEMOCRATS
START TO TAKE ISSUE WITH IT BY
SAYING WELL, THE MEDICAL TERM
FOR ENDING A PREGNANCY IS STILL
ABORTION REGARDLESS IF IT'S
MEDICALLY NECESSARY OR NOT.
IT IS NOT JUST AN ISSUE OF
LANGUAGE AT STAKE.
(16:32):
THEY FEEL THIS MAY MUDDY THE
WATERS.
THERE WERE DEMOCRATS WHO WOULD
LIKE TO HEAR FROM HOSPITAL
LAWYERS BECAUSE THEY WILL BE
FOLKS WHO WILL BE MAKING A LARGE
PART OF WHAT IS ABLE TO HAPPEN.
IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THERE
WERE THERE WAS AN OBGYN WHO
CONSULTED ONS THIS LEGISLATION
AND BACKS IT AND HAS BEEN A
(16:52):
CRITIC OF KEN'S ABORTION BANS IT
IS NOT PERFECT AND IT IS A START
AND IT WILL HELP.
SOME DISCUSSION WHETHER
THE SPECIFICS CAUSE CLARITY OR
LEAD TO MORE CONFUSION?
>> RIGHT.
AND THAT IS THE POINT WE SAW
FROM DEMOCRATS WHO IN THE HOUSE
DEMOCRATS LARGELY VOTED AGAINST
IT.
IN THE SENATE THEY LARGELY
(17:14):
PASSED ON THE ISSUE.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD HAS COME OUT
STRONGLY AGAINST THIS
LEGISLATION SAYING IT
EFFECTIVELY WON'T DO ANYTHING TO
SAVE LIVES.
SO IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT
THE GOVERNOR WILL DO.
YOU KNOW, TO SIGN IT WOULD BE TO
BREAK WITH THE MAJORITY OF HIS
PARTY IN FRANKFORT.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HE ALSO
(17:35):
MADE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND
ABORTION RIGHTS A HUGE PART OF
HIS CAMPAIGN FOR REELECTION IN
2023.
HE SPOKE AT THE DNC ABOUT
ABORTION RIGHTS.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE
WHAT HE DOES ON THAT BILL.
ALL RIGHT.
HOUSE BILL 298 ADDRESSES
EDUCATIONAL SEXUAL MISCONDUCT.
(17:55):
JESS, DOES THAT PRIMARILY
ADDRESS SITUATIONS AT OFTEN FLY
UNDER THE RADAR?
>> YES.
ONE OF THE MAIN WAYS THIS WORKS
IS CLOSES A LOOPHOLE THAT EXISTS
IN CURRENT LAW.
RIGHT NOW SOMETHING THAT HAS
HAPPENED IN KENTUCKY IS AN
EDUCATOR MAYBE ACCUSED OF ABUSE,
AND THEY ARE ABLE TO LEAVE THEIR
SCHOOL DISTRICT BEFORE THE
(18:17):
DISTRICT INVESTIGATION INTO THAT
ABUSE IS COMPLETE.
AND SO THEN WHEN THEY GO TO
ANOTHER DISTRICT AND THAT
DISTRICT PULLS THE FILES,
THERE'S NO FINAL FINDING.
SO THIS --
AND THEY GET HIRED AND NO ONE IS
THE WISER THEY WERE ACCUSED OF
SEXUAL ABUSE AT THE PRIOR
SCHOOL.
IT REQUIRES SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO
(18:38):
FINISH THEIR INVESTIGATIONS INTO
EDUCATOR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT EVEN
IF THAT EDUCATOR HAS RESIGNED.
SO THAT WAY THERE IS A PAPER
TRAIL THAT ALLOWS MORE THOROUGH
BACKGROUND CHECK.
THE KENTUCKY YOUTH
ADVOCATES AMONG THE GROUPS IN
FAVOR.
>> YES.
IT'S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS IN THE
MAKING.
IT PASSED THE SAME MEASURE VERY
(19:00):
SIMILAR MEASURE PASSED THE HOUSE
LAST YEAR BUT DID NOT PASS THE
SENATE.
SO, YEAH, ADVOCATES ARE HAPPY
THAT IT FINALLY DID.
MARIO COPPER THEFT
WOULD BECOME A FELONY IN CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES?
>> REPUBLICAN IN THE BILL CALLS
FOR STIFFING ADDING STIFFER
PENALTIES FOR PEOPLE WHO COMMIT
(19:22):
COPPER THEFT CLASSIFIED STREET
LIGHTS, TELEPHONE AND INTERNET
LINES CLASSIFIED AS CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE RMT SO VANDALISM
WOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS A FELONY
WITH THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
TESSA THERE IS A PUBLIC
RECORDS BILL IN YOUR POSITION
EDITOR YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING
CLOSELY.
>> THIS IS A BILL THAT IS OF
GREAT INTEREST TO GOVERNMENT
(19:44):
WATCHDOGS AND JOURNALISTS ALIKE.
IT WITH CREATE A LOOPHOLE IN THE
OPEN RECORDS LAW FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO MAKE IT EASIER TO
WITHHOLD RECORDS.
IT WOULD LOWER THE BURDEN OF
PROOF FOR WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FOR
THEM TO SAY THAT COULD HARM OUR
INVESTIGATION WE CANNOT GIVE YOU
THAT DOCUMENT.
WELL, THERE'S BEEN A
LOT OF DISCUSSION IN THIS
(20:05):
SESSION ABOUT TRANSPARENCY,
ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
THE REPUBLICANS DEFENDED THE
SPEED OF THINGS SAYING TOWARDS
THE END YOU HAVE TO GET MOVING
TO GET THINGS DONE.
BUT THAT HAS BEEN QUITE A THEME,
HASN'T IT?
>> IT SURE HAS ESPECIALLY AGAIN
AS WE MENTIONED AT THE
BEGINNING, THE TERM SHELL BILLS
IS WHAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT
(20:26):
THROUGH MANY SESSIONS WHERE
LEGISLATURE AT THE BEGINNING
DAYS OR WEEKS THEY MAY FILE A
BILL THAT HAS LIMITED WORDS AND
A FEW SENTENCES AND THEN THEY
REVISIT IT WHEN A CERTAIN BILL
COMES UP IN A COMMITTEE AND THEN
THAT ONE BILL HAS MANY PAGES AND
MANY WORDS AND IT MAY CHANGE
WHAT THE BILL SPONSOR'S
(20:48):
INTENTION WAS AND THAT IS WHAT
SOME BILLS TURNED INTO THIS PAST
WEEK CAUSING A LOT OF CONCERN
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WANTING TO
KEEP TRACK OF THE BILLS MOVING
THROUGH FRANKFORT AND WHAT WAS
FILED ORIGINALLY IT IS NOT WHAT
THEY SAW AT THE BEGINNING.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE IS
ANOTHER TERM WE HEAR.
>> THAT IS ANOTHER PROCESS.
YOU MIGHT THINK THAT YOU'RE
(21:08):
GOING TO TESTIFY IN FRANKFORT
ABOUT A BILL THAT YOU LIKE OR
DON'T LIKE.
AND LAWMAKER SAYS WE'VE GOT A
SUBSTITUTE IT IS NOT ON-LINE YET
YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS IN IT
AND YOU HOPE A FRIENDLY LAWMAKER
WILL SLIP YOU A COPY.
IN WASHINGTON KENTUCKY
BUSINESSES INCLUDING THE BOURBON
SECTOR CLOSELY WATCHING TARIFFS.
(21:30):
THE BOURBON INDUSTRY AGAIN
HAVING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE
THINGS ARE HEADED?
>> THAT IS RIGHT.
ESPECIALLY WITH PRESIDENT DONALD
TRUMP HE THREATED ENDED FORMS OF
TARIFFS RELATED TO BOURBON AND
ALSO RELATED TO EUROPEAN UNION
AND THE WINE CHAMPAGNE AND
SPIRITS THE EUROPE UNION GOES
FORWARD WITH THE PLANNED TARIFFS
(21:51):
ON WHISKEY.
IT HAS BEEN CHANGING BY THE DAYS
BY THE WEEKS.
GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS BEEN IN
ALIGNMENT WITH SENATOR MITCH
McCONNELL AND ALSO SENATOR
RAND PAUL REPUBLICANS WHO THEY
ALL THREE SAY THEY ARE HAVE
CONCERN ABOUT THE TARIFFS
SPECIFICALLY AS IT APPLIES TO
BURR ON AND HOW THAT MOVES
FORWARD.
>> WE'VE SEEN IN CANADA,
(22:12):
KENTUCKY BOURBON BEING PULLED
OFF THE SHELVES.
IN RETALIATION TO THE TARIFFS
THAT HAVE GONE BACK AND FORTH
AND ON AND OFF.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS
THAT THE EUROPEAN UNION IS A
SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER MARKET FOR
KENTUCKY BOURBON AND AMERICAN
SPIRITS.
CANADA IS A MUCH SMALLER SHARE
(22:33):
OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET FOR
THIS.
SO IF THIS ESCALATES IF THESE
TARIFFS ON THESE PRODUCTS GO
THROUGH THAT WILL BE A REALLY
SERIOUS THING FOR THE BOURBON
INDUSTRY TO GRAPPLE WITH.
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS
SERIOUSLY SCALING BACK THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
JESS, THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS
MOST OF THAT MONEY WILL STILL
(22:53):
CONTINUE TO GO TO STATES.
IF YOU WRITE A CHECK FOR THE
SAME AMOUNT WHAT IS THE ISSUE?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW THERE'S
QUESTIONS ABOUT KENTUCKY GETS
ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO IT COULD COME FROM ANOTHER
AGENCY.
THE ISSUES WITH THE CUTS JUST
IMMEDIATELY LOOKING AT THEM, YOU
(23:15):
KNOW, ONE MAJOR DEPARTMENT
THEY'VE COMPLETELY GUTTED IS THE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
SO THESE ARE INVESTIGATORS AND
LAWYERS THAT INVESTIGATE CIVIL
RIGHTS COMPLAINTS BY STUDENTS
AGAINST THEIR SCHOOLS.
WHETHER THEY WERE SEXUALLY
ASSAULTED AT SCHOOL OR IF THEY
FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN
UNFAIRLY DISCIPLINED THEY CAN
FILE A FEDERAL COMPLAINT AND
(23:35):
THIS OFFICE WILL INVESTIGATE IT.
THAT OFFICE IS GONE.
SO THERE ARE DOZENS OF OPEN
CASES.
AND WILL HAVE NO RELIEF.
THAT IS ONE PIECE OF THE CUTS
THAT IS IMMEDIATELY IMPACTING
KENTUCKIANS.
IT'S SPELLED OUT
SPENDING AND REGULATED IT RIGHT
FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL?
>> THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
NO, THE EDUCATION
(23:57):
DEPARTMENT.
>> YES.
THAT IS WHAT THE KEA
HAS SAID.
>> YES.
THOSE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN IS
GOING TO HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE,
YES.
KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN
THOMAS MASSIE WAS THE ONLY
REPUBLICAN TO VOTE AGAINST
KEEPING THE GOVERNMENT DEADLINE
RUNNING.
PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLED HIM A
(24:19):
GRANDSTANDER AND WOULD SUPPORT A
PRIMARY CHALLENGE FOR MASSIE.
MASSIE SAID HE DIDN'T THINK THAT
WOULD WORK BUT HE HAS BEEN AT
ODDS WITH THE PRESIDENT BEFORE.
>> HE SURE HAS.
PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLED FOR
MASSIE TO BE KICKED OUT OF
OFFICE IN 2020 BECAUSE
CONGRESSMAN MASSIE WAS
ATTEMPTING TO DELAY THE COVID-19
RELIEF BILL FROM MOVING FORWARD.
(24:41):
AND TRUMP ACCUSED MASSIE AT THE
TIME FOR BEING A THIRD RATE
GRANDSTANDER WHO JUST WANTED
PUBLICITY.
NOW TRUMP IS USING CALLING HIM A
GRANDSTANDER.
RELEASED A POST ON THE TRUTH
SOCIAL SAYING THAT ONE WAS
ASKING IF THERE ARE TAKERS
BECAUSE HE WAS LEADING THE
(25:02):
CHARGE AGAINST THOMAS MASSIE
BECAUSE HE BELIEVES HE SHOULD BE
PRIMARIED FOR THE NEXT ELECTION
IN 2026 AND MASSIE SAYS HE HAS
NO CONCERN AND HAS BEEN ABLE TO
RAISE SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND
DOLLARS TOWARDS HIS REELECTION
CAMPAIGN BECAUSE TRUMP
[INAUDIBLE].
WE ARE WATCHING TO SEE
HOW NEXT YEAR'S OPEN SENATE RACE
(25:23):
PANS OUT WITH MITCH McCONNELL
NOT RUNNING.
TESSA WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?
>> ON THE RIGHT IT IS A RACE AS
FAR AWAY FROM MITCH McCONNELL
AS THE CANDIDATES CAN POSITIONLY
GET.
POSSIBLY GET.
WE ARE SEEING ONE POTENTIAL
CANDIDATE NATE MORRIS HAS NOT
(25:44):
DECLARED.
THE ONLY PERSON WHO IS IS IN IS
DANIEL CAMERON AND ANDY BARR IS
SERIOUSLY LOOKING AT A RUN.
THE DEMOCRATS WE HAVE STATE REP
PAMELA STEVENSON WHO IS RUNNING
AND WE ARE HEARING THAT PEOPLE
ARE ENCOURAGING BESHEAR'S SENIOR
ADVISER ROCKY ADD KINS TO TAKE A
LOOK.
JESS LET US KNOW WHEN
(26:09):
JPCS MAKES A SUPERINTENDENT
DECISION.
WEATHER IS COMING IN.
KENTUCKIANS FAR AND WIDE ARE
REMEMBERING FORMER UNIVERSITY OF
LOUISVILLE BASKETBALL STAR
BRIDGEMAN HE PLAYED FOR 12
SEASONS IN THE NBA AND KNOWN AS
A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS LEADER
INVESTING IN FAST FOOD
(26:30):
RESTAURANTS, MAGAZINES AND MORE.
HE PASSED AWAY TUESDAY AT THE
AGE OF 71.
THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".
HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.
[♪♪]
>> Bill (00:07):
THE LAST FULL WEEK OF
THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
SENDS DOZENS OF BILLS TO THE
GOVERNOR'S DESK FOR A SIGNATURE
OR VETO.
COULD ANTI-D.E.I. LEGISLATION BE
AMONG THE BILLS THE GOVERNOR
TRIES TO STOP?
A BILL BANNING PHONES IN
CLASSROOMS IS AMONG A SLEW OF
ACTIONS THAT COULD IMPACT
SCHOOLS.
(00:28):
IN WASHINGTON THOMAS MASSIE
VOTES AGAINST AN EFFORT TO KEEP
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RUNNING
AND CLASHES WITH PRESIDENT
TRUMP.
AND COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.
[♪♪]
(00:48):
GOOD EVENING I'M BILL
BRYANT.
WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON
KENTUCKY", A LOOK BACK AND SOME
ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN
THE COMMONWEALTH.
AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF
WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS
TONIGHT ARE, TESSA DUVALL,
POLITICS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
EDITOR FOR THE LEXINGTON
HERALD-LEADER.
JESS CLARK EDUCATION REPORTER
(01:10):
FOR THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING.
AND MARIO ANDERSON ANCHOR AND
HOST OF INFO KENTUCKY ON
SPECTRUM NEWS 1.
RIGHT TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION
WRAPPING UP THE FINAL FULL WEEK
BEFORE RETURNING TO ACT ON
VETOES THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR MAY
ISSUE.
AN ANTI-D.E.I. BILL MADE ITS WAY
THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE AND
(01:31):
REQUIRE COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES TO END DIVERSITY
PROGRAMS IN OFFICES BY JUNE
30TH.
THE DEBATES WERE SPIRITED.
>> THIS BILL SOLELY AIMS AT
UNCONSTITUTIONAL D.E.I.
INITIATIVES OFFICES AND OFFICERS
THAT PROMOTE OR PROVIDE
DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT OR
BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS ON THE
(01:51):
BASE OF RELIGION, RACE, COLOR,
SEX AND NATIONAL ORIGIN.
NOTHING BROADER ON THE CAMPUS.
>> LET'S MAKE NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
THIS BILL IS ABOUT RACE.
AND ABOUT HIS INTENTION TO
REALLY CHANGE THE COURSE OF
HISTORY.
WE WANT TO PUT ON THE FRONT DOOR
(02:14):
OF THESE PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES YOU
ARE NOT WELCOME.
APPLICATION DENIED.
TESSA, DEMOCRATIC
SENATOR ROBIN WEBB JOINED THE
REPUBLICANS IN VOTING FOR HOUSE
BILL 4 THE ANTI-D.E.I.
LEGISLATION.
OBVIOUSLY SOME PERSONAL DEBATE
(02:34):
AT TIMES IN THE CHAMBER.
>> RIGHT.
WE ALL KNEW THAT THIS WAS GOING
TO BE A MASSIVE PIECE OF
LEGISLATION TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT
FOR.
WE ALL REMEMBER IN 2024 THERE
WERE DUELING VERGES WHAT THE
ANTI-D.E.I. AND HIGHER-ED BILL
WOULD LOOK LIKE BETWEEN THE
HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND THE TWO
CHAMBERS COULD NOT COME TO AN
(02:55):
AGREEMENT ON THE BEST PATH
FORWARD.
AND THE 2024 SESSION CONCLUDED
WITHOUT THAT LEGISLATION.
WE KNEW IT WASN'T GOING TO
HAPPEN THAT WAY AGAIN THIS
SESSION.
AND YOU KNOW, IT IS SOMETHING
THAT IS DEEPLY PERSONAL TO A LOT
OF THESE LAWMAKERS.
AND YOU SEE AT THAT TIME
REFLECTED IN THE DEBATE.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT
(03:17):
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HAVE
ALREADY STARTED TO REACT TO THIS
LEGISLATION BECAUSE THEY KNEW IT
WAS COMING.
SO AFTER THE 24 SESSION, THE
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY CLOSED
DOWN ITS D.E.I. OFFICE, THE
PRESIDENT SAID HE WOULDN'T BE
MAKING ANYMORE STATEMENTS ABOUT
POLITICAL THINGS AND NORTHERN
KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY ALSO CLOSED
(03:37):
ITS OFFICE.
THEY KNEW IT WAS COMING AND
ACTED ACCORDINGLY.
SO WHAT WILL ACTUALLY CHANGE
WHEN THIS LAW GOES INTO EFFECT,
ASSUMING THAT IT DOES, REMAINS
TO BE SEEN.
BECAUSE A LOT OF UNIVERSITIES
ARE SAYING WE DON'T HAVE THOSE
OFFICES.
SO PRACTICALLY WHAT IT LOOKS
LIKE WE'RE WAITING TO SEE.
(03:58):
>> AND ALSO ROBIN WEBB SOME
CONSIDER HER AS A CONSERVATIVE
DEMOCRAT SHE HAS BROKEN FROM THE
DEMOCRATS AND VOTED WITH
REPUBLICANS ON VARIOUS ISSUES.
SHE IS FROM GREYSON BUT THE
SENATE DEMOCRATS THEY SENT OUT A
RELEASE AFTER THE VOTE WENT DOWN
SAYING THEY CONDEMN HOUSE BILL
4.
THEY CALLED IT A DIRECT ASSAULT
(04:19):
ON HIGHER EDUCATION, FREE SPEECH
AND KENTUCKY'S FUTURE.
AND THEN IN THE SENATE CHAMBER,
THE DEMOCRATTER LEADER, HE HAD
FILED 15 INDIVIDUAL FLOOR
AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL 4 TO
TRY TO FIND SOME TYPE OF
BIPARTISAN WORK THERE.
BUT ALL THOSE AMENDMENTS NONE OF
(04:39):
THEM WERE ADDED, OF COURSE.
SO.
HE KNEW HE COULD NOT
KILL IT WAS HE ATTEMPTING TO
MODERATE IT?
>> MODERATE IT AND AT ONE POINT
HE APPEARED WITH THE BILL'S
SPONSOR JENIFER DECKER WHEN SHE
WAS TESTIFYING AND AGAIN DURING
THAT PROCESS TRYING TO AGAIN,
FIGURE OUT SOME WAY TO WORK
(05:01):
TOGETHER IN SOME WAY.
BUT THEN IN THE SENATE CHAMBER
TRIED TO WORK WITH THE SENATE
FLOOR LEADER MAX WISE TO AGAIN
FIND COMMON GROUND IN SOME
CAPACITY.
BUT NONE OF THAT WAS HEARD.
AND THERE'S NO ADDITIONS MADE.
JESS, IT WILL BE
EFFECTIVE JUNE 30TH.
WILL IT SEND UNIVERSITIES
(05:22):
SCRAMBLING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
OFFICES OR EVEN LANGUAGE THEY
MAY HAVE TO ELIMINATE ON CAMPUS?
>> I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME
SCRAMBLING.
IT'S NOT REALLY CLEAR.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE DON'T
KNOW WHAT THE IMPACTS WILL BE
AND I THINK UNIVERSITIES ARE
STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
THE IMPACTS SHOULD BE.
ONE REASON IS THAT THE WAY
(05:43):
D.E.I. IS DEFINED IN THE BILL IS
NOT NECESSARILY HOW PEOPLE WHO
PRACTICE D.E.I. WOULD DEFINE IT.
AND SO THERE'S GOING TO BE
QUESTIONS ABOUT WELL DOES THIS
OFFICE DO D.E.I. OR DOES IT NOT?
AND YOU MENTIONED LANGUAGE.
I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY GOING
TO BE JUST A GENERAL KIND OF
(06:03):
SHYING AWAY FROM ANYTHING THAT
SAYS DIVERSITY, EQUITY OR
INCLUSION.
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY,
IF SOMEONE FILES A COMPLAINT
IT'S GOING TO BE THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL WHO IS GOING TO DECIDE
IF THIS COUNTS AS D.E.I. OR NOT.
SO I THINK UNIVERSITIES PROBABLY
WON'T WANT TO RISK IT.
>> AND ALSO TOO THERE'S
DISCUSSION ABOUT THE SENATE
ORGANIZATIONS AND THE VARIOUS
(06:24):
PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
THEY HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF THINGS
THAT COULD BE UNDER THAT
UMBRELLA OF D.E.I. TYPE OF
ORGANIZATIONS.
BUT THERE'S --
THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TAX DOLLARS
ARE NOT USED TO DO THE EVENTS ON
CAMPUS OR AWARENESS THINGS.
THAT IS SOMETHING TO WATCH.
IF THEY COLLECT A
(06:45):
STUDENT FEE WOULD THAT BRING
TUNDER THE LAW THAT IS A
QUESTION?
>> A QUESTION TO FIND OUT THE
ANSWER TO.
IT WOULD SEEM THAT
GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS GOING TO
VETO THIS MEASUREMENT HE HAS
SAID THIS WEEK THAT DIVERSITY IS
AN ASSET.
>> HE HAS AND HE MADE STATEMENTS
LIKE THAT LAST YEAR AS WELL IN
ANTICIPATION OF THIS LEGISLATION
(07:06):
REACHING HIS DESK.
I WOULD NOT BE SHOCKED IF THE
GOVERNOR VETOES THIS.
BUT WITH ANY BILL THAT HE VETOES
OVER THE VETO RECESS THEY CAN
CERTAINLY COME BACK AND OVERRIDE
THAT AND WITH THE COMMANDING 80%
SUPER MAJORITY IN FRANKFORT
REPUBLICANS WILL ALMOST
CERTAINLY DO JUST THAT.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL WATCH.
TIE THIS UP.
(07:27):
WHERE DOES IT SEEM TO GO ON
D.E.I.?
IT'S PASSED THE GOVERNOR VETOES
AND WE AWAIT THAT.
>> AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE FIRST
BILLS CALLED WHEN THE
LEGISLATURE RETURNS AT THE END
OF MARCH AND THEY MOVE QUICK
WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO
OFFER VETO OVERRIDES.
THE FAIRNESS CAMPAIGN
(07:48):
HELD A RALLY AND TOOK POSITIONS
AGAINST SOME BILLS INCLUDING ONE
TO REVERSE THE GOVERNOR'S BAN ON
CONVERSION THERAPY THAT BILL
BROUGHT CONTENTIOUS DEBATE TO
THE LEGISLATURE AS LIMITS ON
GENDER AFFIRMING HEALTHCARE WERE
ADDED TO THE HOUSE BILL.
>> WHAT YOU ARE DOING NOW, IS
DENYING LIFE-SAVING MEDICALLY
(08:08):
NECESSARY HEALTHCARE TO AN
UNTOLD NUMBER OF KENTUCKIANS
WITHOUT DEBATE.
THIS LATE IN THE GAME, BECAUSE
FOLKS DON'T WANT TO HAVE THIS
DEBATE.
>> GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S EXECUTIVE
ORDER THAT LIMITS THE FREE
SPEECH OF COUNSELORS ON THE
(08:28):
ISSUES OF GENDER AND SEXUALITY
SAYS THAT SAME THING.
IT SAYS TO COUNSELORS TO PASTORS
LIKE MYSELF, YOU CAN ONLY
COUNSEL IN ONE DIRECTION ON THIS
ISSUE.
I FAIL TO SEE HOW WE WOULD STAND
FOR SUCH A THING IN ANY OTHER
CONTEXT.
(08:49):
TESSA IS BESHEAR
SIGNALING A VETO THAT WOULD
REVERSE HIS BAN ON CONVERSION
THERAPY?
>> ALMOST CERTAINLY.
HE CAME OUT AGAINST THIS BILL.
IT DOES TWO THINGS.
THIS BILL REVERSES THE
GOVERNOR'S PREVIOUS EXECUTIVE
ORDER REGARDING CONVERSION
THERAPY AND NOT ALLOWING IT TO
(09:10):
BE PAID FOR WITH FEDERAL OR
STATE DOLLARS.
AND IT ALSO WAS COMMITTEE
SUBSTITUTE SO A CHANGE WAS MADE
IN MID-PROCESS TO ALSO BAR
MEDICAID DOLLARS FOR PAYING FOR
THINGS LIKE HORMONES FOR
TRANSGENDER ADULTS WHO RECEIVE
THEIR HEALTHCARE THAT WAY.
TWO DIFFERENT THINGS THIS BILL
DOES.
AND THE GOVERNOR ON THURSDAY
(09:31):
ATTACKED THIS BILL FROM A NUMBER
OF PERSPECTIVES.
HE SAID THAT CONVERSION THERAPY
IS EQUIVALENT TO TORTURE FOR THE
YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PUT
THROUGH IT.
AND IN REGARDS TO THE MEDICAID
PROVISION, HE SAID THAT WE
SHOULD LET DOCTORS MAKE MEDICAL
DECISIONS AND NOT POLITICIANS
WHO ARE GOING WITH THE WINDS OF
(09:52):
THE DAY.
AND HE ALSO SAID THAT
REPUBLICANS HAVE SPOKEN A LOT
ABOUT MEDICAL FREEDOM WHEN IT
COMES TO VACCINES AND THIS WOULD
SEEM TO BE HYPOCRITICAL AND NOT
IN ALIGNMENT WITH THAT STANCE.
AND HE ALSO TOOK ISSUE WITH THE
PROCESS OF THIS BILL TOOK THE
CURRENT FORM THAT IT IS IN.
AND THAT WAS WITH A COMMITTEE
(10:13):
SUBSTITUTE ONLY A FEW DAYS AGO.
THAT IS WHAT WE SAW IN ONE OF
THE CLIPS HOW THIS IS AN 11TH
HOUR CHANGE.
FOR ALL OF THESE REASONS THE
GOVERNOR SAID HE DOES NOT LIKE
THIS BILL.
SO, YES, IF I WERE TO BET I
WOULD SAY THIS IS ONE THAT IS
VETOED.
AND ONCE AGAIN, EASILY
OVERRIDDEN.
>> EASILY OVERRIDDEN.
(10:35):
MARIO HOUSE BILL 775
FILLED OUT A SHELL BILL IT IS A
SWEEPING MEASURE AND MAKE IT
EASIER TO CUT THE STATE INCOME
TAX.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS
INCLUDED IN THAT.
AND IT STARTED WHEN FILED AS A
FOUR-PAGE BILL BY THE
REPRESENTATIVE THERE AND
INITIALLY FOCUS TOWARDS THE
LOCAL AREA ALLOWING LOCAL TO
CREATE A SMALL TAX INCREMENT
(10:57):
FINANCING DISTRICT SIMILAR NEAR
THE KFC CENTER IN THAT AREA.
IT HAS TRANSFORMED INTO A
107-PAGE BILL WITH AMENDMENTS
INCLUDED.
BUT THE MAIN CRUX AS YOU
MENTIONED THERE'S NEW LANGUAGE
THAT WOULD ALLOW THE INDIVIDUAL
INCOME TAX RATE TO BE LOWERED
EVEN IF THE STATE DOESN'T HIT
THE BUDGET TRIGGERS IN LAW AT
(11:20):
SMALLER INCREMENTS.
IT CAUSED A LOT OF DEBATE IN
FRANKFORT AND HOW THAT PROCESS
WORKS.
BECAUSE IN 2022 WHEN THEY TAB
LISHED THE REQUIREMENTS ON HOW
THE TRIGGERS WOULD BE MET.
AND HOW THEY WOULD BE LOWERED.
AND NOW THIS NEW MEASURE AND
THIS AMENDMENTS TO THIS BILL
CHANGED THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
SOME FEEL IT'S NOT
(11:40):
BEING LOWERED FAST ENOUGH?
>> WELL, A LOT OF THE REPUBLICAN
LEADERS THEY WANT TO GET THE
INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX DOWN TO
ZERO AS FAST AS THEY CAN.
SO THIS IS ONE WAY THEY CAN BE
GO AHEAD AND PUSH FORWARD AND
NOT WAIT FOR THE TWO-YEAR CYCLE
AND GET IT DONE.
IT DOESN'T ELIMINATE
(12:00):
THE TRIGGERS BUT IT MAY MAKE IT
EASIER TO GET THROUGH THEM?
>> CORRECT.
JESS, A BILL BANNING
CELLPHONES IN CLASSROOMS PASSED.
WE KNOW MANY TEACHERS IN THE
STATE HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED BY
STUDENTS USING THEIR PHONES
WHILE THEY ARE TRYING TO TEACH.
>> YES.
IT IS A PROBLEM.
COMPETITION.
>> IT'S TOUGH COMPETITION.
(12:20):
YEAH.
SO THIS BILL WOULD REQUIRE
SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO HAVE
POLICIES IN PLACE THAT AT
MINIMUM BANS CELLPHONE USE
DURING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME UNLESS
THE TEACHER IS ALLOWING
CELLPHONE USE AS PART OF
INSTRUCTION.
SO A LOT OF DISTRICTS ALREADY
HAVE THESE POLICIES THIS IS JUST
AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THIS IS AN
(12:41):
ISSUE AND THE LAWMAKERS ARE LOOK
AT IT.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE INTERESTING
THING IN THIS BILL THERE'S ALSO
A PROVISION THAT REQUIRES SCHOOL
DISTRICTS TO FILTER SOCIAL MEDIA
SITES SO THAT STUDENTS ARE NOT
ABLE TO ACCESS SOCIAL MEDIA
WHILE NECESSARY IN SCHOOL.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT SCHOOLS
(13:02):
ALREADY DO FOR PORNOGRAPHY
SITES.
SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE
IF SCHOOL DISTRICT RESPECTABLE
TO IMPLEMENT THIS SO STUDENTS
CAN'T GET ON INSTAGRAM DURING
THE SCHOOL DAY.
OPENING THE DOOR FOR
LOCAL POLICY.
>> YES.
IT IS OPENING THE DOOR FOR A
LOCAL POLICY.
YES.
TESSA THE AGE IS
LOWERED TO 15 FOR A DRIVER'S
(13:23):
PERMIT ASSUMING THE GOVERNOR
SIGNS THAT AND INDICATIONS SHOW
THAT HE WILL.
IT ALIGNS KENTUCKY WITH OTHER
STATES AND WILL ALLOW YOUNG
PEOPLE TO GET THE JOBS?
>> RIGHT.
THE POINT WAS MADE DURING FLOOR
DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS BILL IS
THAT THERE ARE KIDS 15-YEAR-OLDS
FROM OTHER STATES WHO CAN COME
INTO KENTUCKY AND DRIVE ON OUR
(13:43):
ROADS LEGALLY.
BUT 15-YEAR-OLDS IN KENTUCKY
CANNOT DO THE SAME.
SO THIS IS BRINGING KENTUCKY
INTO ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER
STATES.
AND IT WOULD ALSO LOWER THE
LADIES AND AGE
THAT YOUNG FOLKS COULD GET THEIR
FULL LICENSE THEY COULD GET THE
JOBS SOONER.
(14:03):
HEMP DRINKS ARE GROWING
IN POPULARITY AND THERE IS A
STRONG EFFORT TO REGULATE THEM.
THERE WAS TALK OF BANNING THEM
BUT THIS BILL DOES NOT GO THAT
FAR?
>> SENATOR JULIE ROCKY ADAMS,
THE CHAIRWOMAN AND SAID IT IS AN
ATTEMPT TO PUT COMMON SENSE
PARAMETERS ON A FAST GROWING
MARKET AND THE LEGISLATION WOULD
(14:25):
CAP THE AMOUNT OF THC AT FIVE
MILLIGRAMS PER 12 OUNCE CANS AND
ALLOW RETAILORS TO SELL THE
DRINKS WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS UNTIL
JUNE.
BUT THEN THOSE DRINKS SALES THAT
HAPPEN IN BARS OR RESTAURANTS,
THE POTENTIALLY COULD BE BANNED.
BUT THE HEMP SUPPORTERS THEY SAY
THEY OPPOSE THIS BILL BECAUSE
(14:46):
THEY HAVE CONCERNS IT REQUIRE
THE RETAILORS THAT SELL THIS TO
GET LIQUOR LICENSES TO SELL THE
DRINKS WHICH THEY ARE NOT
PREPARED FOR BECAUSE IT WOULD
IMPACT 1300 STORES ACROSS
KENTUCKY.
NOT A SPECIFIC HEMP
DRINK LICENSE BUT THE LIQUOR
LICENSE.
>> CORRECT.
INTERESTING.
TESSA THERE WAS AN ABORTION
(15:07):
CLARIFICATION BILL THAT
SUPPORTERS SAID SOME MEDICAL
ISSUES REALLY NEEDED TO BE
SPELLED OUT.
>> RIGHT.
SO THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE
ISSUES SINCE ABORTION BECAME
ILLEGAL IN KENTUCKY THREE YEARS
AGO IS THAT THERE ARE CONDITIONS
THAT DO NOT IMMEDIATELY PUT THE
LIFE OF THE MOTHER AT RISK.
BUT THEY ARE STILL RISKY.
MY COLLEAGUES AT THE
(15:29):
HERALD-LEADER HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT
THOSE CONDITIONS.
WHERE A FETUS IS NOT VIABLE BUT
IT'S NOT IN IMMEDIATE
LIFE-THREATENING RISK TO THE
PREGNANT WOMAN.
AND SO THIS BILL ACCORDING TO
THE SPONSORS IS A RECOGNITION
THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THAT.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY IT WAS
PRESENTED AND PUSHED THROUGH BY
(15:51):
THREE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS
INCLUDING ONE WHO HAS BEEN
TRADITIONALLY OPPOSED TO ANY
ROLLING BACK OF ABORTION
LEGISLATION.
BUT IT IS SAYING THAT WE NEED TO
AND THIS IS THE HOW IT WAS SORT
OF PRESENTED BY SPONSORS WE NEED
TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN AN
ELECTIVE PROCEDURE AND A
(16:11):
MEDICALLY NECESSARY PROCEDURE.
AND THIS IS WHERE DEMOCRATS
START TO TAKE ISSUE WITH IT BY
SAYING WELL, THE MEDICAL TERM
FOR ENDING A PREGNANCY IS STILL
ABORTION REGARDLESS IF IT'S
MEDICALLY NECESSARY OR NOT.
IT IS NOT JUST AN ISSUE OF
LANGUAGE AT STAKE.
(16:32):
THEY FEEL THIS MAY MUDDY THE
WATERS.
THERE WERE DEMOCRATS WHO WOULD
LIKE TO HEAR FROM HOSPITAL
LAWYERS BECAUSE THEY WILL BE
FOLKS WHO WILL BE MAKING A LARGE
PART OF WHAT IS ABLE TO HAPPEN.
IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THERE
WERE THERE WAS AN OBGYN WHO
CONSULTED ONS THIS LEGISLATION
AND BACKS IT AND HAS BEEN A
(16:52):
CRITIC OF KEN'S ABORTION BANS IT
IS NOT PERFECT AND IT IS A START
AND IT WILL HELP.
SOME DISCUSSION WHETHER
THE SPECIFICS CAUSE CLARITY OR
LEAD TO MORE CONFUSION?
>> RIGHT.
AND THAT IS THE POINT WE SAW
FROM DEMOCRATS WHO IN THE HOUSE
DEMOCRATS LARGELY VOTED AGAINST
IT.
IN THE SENATE THEY LARGELY
(17:14):
PASSED ON THE ISSUE.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD HAS COME OUT
STRONGLY AGAINST THIS
LEGISLATION SAYING IT
EFFECTIVELY WON'T DO ANYTHING TO
SAVE LIVES.
SO IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT
THE GOVERNOR WILL DO.
YOU KNOW, TO SIGN IT WOULD BE TO
BREAK WITH THE MAJORITY OF HIS
PARTY IN FRANKFORT.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HE ALSO
(17:35):
MADE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND
ABORTION RIGHTS A HUGE PART OF
HIS CAMPAIGN FOR REELECTION IN
2023.
HE SPOKE AT THE DNC ABOUT
ABORTION RIGHTS.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE
WHAT HE DOES ON THAT BILL.
ALL RIGHT.
HOUSE BILL 298 ADDRESSES
EDUCATIONAL SEXUAL MISCONDUCT.
(17:55):
JESS, DOES THAT PRIMARILY
ADDRESS SITUATIONS AT OFTEN FLY
UNDER THE RADAR?
>> YES.
ONE OF THE MAIN WAYS THIS WORKS
IS CLOSES A LOOPHOLE THAT EXISTS
IN CURRENT LAW.
RIGHT NOW SOMETHING THAT HAS
HAPPENED IN KENTUCKY IS AN
EDUCATOR MAYBE ACCUSED OF ABUSE,
AND THEY ARE ABLE TO LEAVE THEIR
SCHOOL DISTRICT BEFORE THE
(18:17):
DISTRICT INVESTIGATION INTO THAT
ABUSE IS COMPLETE.
AND SO THEN WHEN THEY GO TO
ANOTHER DISTRICT AND THAT
DISTRICT PULLS THE FILES,
THERE'S NO FINAL FINDING.
SO THIS --
AND THEY GET HIRED AND NO ONE IS
THE WISER THEY WERE ACCUSED OF
SEXUAL ABUSE AT THE PRIOR
SCHOOL.
IT REQUIRES SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO
(18:38):
FINISH THEIR INVESTIGATIONS INTO
EDUCATOR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT EVEN
IF THAT EDUCATOR HAS RESIGNED.
SO THAT WAY THERE IS A PAPER
TRAIL THAT ALLOWS MORE THOROUGH
BACKGROUND CHECK.
THE KENTUCKY YOUTH
ADVOCATES AMONG THE GROUPS IN
FAVOR.
>> YES.
IT'S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS IN THE
MAKING.
IT PASSED THE SAME MEASURE VERY
(19:00):
SIMILAR MEASURE PASSED THE HOUSE
LAST YEAR BUT DID NOT PASS THE
SENATE.
SO, YEAH, ADVOCATES ARE HAPPY
THAT IT FINALLY DID.
MARIO COPPER THEFT
WOULD BECOME A FELONY IN CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES?
>> REPUBLICAN IN THE BILL CALLS
FOR STIFFING ADDING STIFFER
PENALTIES FOR PEOPLE WHO COMMIT
(19:22):
COPPER THEFT CLASSIFIED STREET
LIGHTS, TELEPHONE AND INTERNET
LINES CLASSIFIED AS CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE RMT SO VANDALISM
WOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS A FELONY
WITH THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
TESSA THERE IS A PUBLIC
RECORDS BILL IN YOUR POSITION
EDITOR YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING
CLOSELY.
>> THIS IS A BILL THAT IS OF
GREAT INTEREST TO GOVERNMENT
(19:44):
WATCHDOGS AND JOURNALISTS ALIKE.
IT WITH CREATE A LOOPHOLE IN THE
OPEN RECORDS LAW FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO MAKE IT EASIER TO
WITHHOLD RECORDS.
IT WOULD LOWER THE BURDEN OF
PROOF FOR WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FOR
THEM TO SAY THAT COULD HARM OUR
INVESTIGATION WE CANNOT GIVE YOU
THAT DOCUMENT.
WELL, THERE'S BEEN A
LOT OF DISCUSSION IN THIS
(20:05):
SESSION ABOUT TRANSPARENCY,
ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
THE REPUBLICANS DEFENDED THE
SPEED OF THINGS SAYING TOWARDS
THE END YOU HAVE TO GET MOVING
TO GET THINGS DONE.
BUT THAT HAS BEEN QUITE A THEME,
HASN'T IT?
>> IT SURE HAS ESPECIALLY AGAIN
AS WE MENTIONED AT THE
BEGINNING, THE TERM SHELL BILLS
IS WHAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT
(20:26):
THROUGH MANY SESSIONS WHERE
LEGISLATURE AT THE BEGINNING
DAYS OR WEEKS THEY MAY FILE A
BILL THAT HAS LIMITED WORDS AND
A FEW SENTENCES AND THEN THEY
REVISIT IT WHEN A CERTAIN BILL
COMES UP IN A COMMITTEE AND THEN
THAT ONE BILL HAS MANY PAGES AND
MANY WORDS AND IT MAY CHANGE
WHAT THE BILL SPONSOR'S
(20:48):
INTENTION WAS AND THAT IS WHAT
SOME BILLS TURNED INTO THIS PAST
WEEK CAUSING A LOT OF CONCERN
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WANTING TO
KEEP TRACK OF THE BILLS MOVING
THROUGH FRANKFORT AND WHAT WAS
FILED ORIGINALLY IT IS NOT WHAT
THEY SAW AT THE BEGINNING.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE IS
ANOTHER TERM WE HEAR.
>> THAT IS ANOTHER PROCESS.
YOU MIGHT THINK THAT YOU'RE
(21:08):
GOING TO TESTIFY IN FRANKFORT
ABOUT A BILL THAT YOU LIKE OR
DON'T LIKE.
AND LAWMAKER SAYS WE'VE GOT A
SUBSTITUTE IT IS NOT ON-LINE YET
YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS IN IT
AND YOU HOPE A FRIENDLY LAWMAKER
WILL SLIP YOU A COPY.
IN WASHINGTON KENTUCKY
BUSINESSES INCLUDING THE BOURBON
SECTOR CLOSELY WATCHING TARIFFS.
(21:30):
THE BOURBON INDUSTRY AGAIN
HAVING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE
THINGS ARE HEADED?
>> THAT IS RIGHT.
ESPECIALLY WITH PRESIDENT DONALD
TRUMP HE THREATED ENDED FORMS OF
TARIFFS RELATED TO BOURBON AND
ALSO RELATED TO EUROPEAN UNION
AND THE WINE CHAMPAGNE AND
SPIRITS THE EUROPE UNION GOES
FORWARD WITH THE PLANNED TARIFFS
(21:51):
ON WHISKEY.
IT HAS BEEN CHANGING BY THE DAYS
BY THE WEEKS.
GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS BEEN IN
ALIGNMENT WITH SENATOR MITCH
McCONNELL AND ALSO SENATOR
RAND PAUL REPUBLICANS WHO THEY
ALL THREE SAY THEY ARE HAVE
CONCERN ABOUT THE TARIFFS
SPECIFICALLY AS IT APPLIES TO
BURR ON AND HOW THAT MOVES
FORWARD.
>> WE'VE SEEN IN CANADA,
(22:12):
KENTUCKY BOURBON BEING PULLED
OFF THE SHELVES.
IN RETALIATION TO THE TARIFFS
THAT HAVE GONE BACK AND FORTH
AND ON AND OFF.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS
THAT THE EUROPEAN UNION IS A
SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER MARKET FOR
KENTUCKY BOURBON AND AMERICAN
SPIRITS.
CANADA IS A MUCH SMALLER SHARE
(22:33):
OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET FOR
THIS.
SO IF THIS ESCALATES IF THESE
TARIFFS ON THESE PRODUCTS GO
THROUGH THAT WILL BE A REALLY
SERIOUS THING FOR THE BOURBON
INDUSTRY TO GRAPPLE WITH.
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS
SERIOUSLY SCALING BACK THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
JESS, THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS
MOST OF THAT MONEY WILL STILL
(22:53):
CONTINUE TO GO TO STATES.
IF YOU WRITE A CHECK FOR THE
SAME AMOUNT WHAT IS THE ISSUE?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW THERE'S
QUESTIONS ABOUT KENTUCKY GETS
ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO IT COULD COME FROM ANOTHER
AGENCY.
THE ISSUES WITH THE CUTS JUST
IMMEDIATELY LOOKING AT THEM, YOU
(23:15):
KNOW, ONE MAJOR DEPARTMENT
THEY'VE COMPLETELY GUTTED IS THE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
SO THESE ARE INVESTIGATORS AND
LAWYERS THAT INVESTIGATE CIVIL
RIGHTS COMPLAINTS BY STUDENTS
AGAINST THEIR SCHOOLS.
WHETHER THEY WERE SEXUALLY
ASSAULTED AT SCHOOL OR IF THEY
FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN
UNFAIRLY DISCIPLINED THEY CAN
FILE A FEDERAL COMPLAINT AND
(23:35):
THIS OFFICE WILL INVESTIGATE IT.
THAT OFFICE IS GONE.
SO THERE ARE DOZENS OF OPEN
CASES.
AND WILL HAVE NO RELIEF.
THAT IS ONE PIECE OF THE CUTS
THAT IS IMMEDIATELY IMPACTING
KENTUCKIANS.
IT'S SPELLED OUT
SPENDING AND REGULATED IT RIGHT
FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL?
>> THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
NO, THE EDUCATION
(23:57):
DEPARTMENT.
>> YES.
THAT IS WHAT THE KEA
HAS SAID.
>> YES.
THOSE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN IS
GOING TO HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE,
YES.
KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN
THOMAS MASSIE WAS THE ONLY
REPUBLICAN TO VOTE AGAINST
KEEPING THE GOVERNMENT DEADLINE
RUNNING.
PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLED HIM A
(24:19):
GRANDSTANDER AND WOULD SUPPORT A
PRIMARY CHALLENGE FOR MASSIE.
MASSIE SAID HE DIDN'T THINK THAT
WOULD WORK BUT HE HAS BEEN AT
ODDS WITH THE PRESIDENT BEFORE.
>> HE SURE HAS.
PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLED FOR
MASSIE TO BE KICKED OUT OF
OFFICE IN 2020 BECAUSE
CONGRESSMAN MASSIE WAS
ATTEMPTING TO DELAY THE COVID-19
RELIEF BILL FROM MOVING FORWARD.
(24:41):
AND TRUMP ACCUSED MASSIE AT THE
TIME FOR BEING A THIRD RATE
GRANDSTANDER WHO JUST WANTED
PUBLICITY.
NOW TRUMP IS USING CALLING HIM A
GRANDSTANDER.
RELEASED A POST ON THE TRUTH
SOCIAL SAYING THAT ONE WAS
ASKING IF THERE ARE TAKERS
BECAUSE HE WAS LEADING THE
(25:02):
CHARGE AGAINST THOMAS MASSIE
BECAUSE HE BELIEVES HE SHOULD BE
PRIMARIED FOR THE NEXT ELECTION
IN 2026 AND MASSIE SAYS HE HAS
NO CONCERN AND HAS BEEN ABLE TO
RAISE SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND
DOLLARS TOWARDS HIS REELECTION
CAMPAIGN BECAUSE TRUMP
[INAUDIBLE].
WE ARE WATCHING TO SEE
HOW NEXT YEAR'S OPEN SENATE RACE
(25:23):
PANS OUT WITH MITCH McCONNELL
NOT RUNNING.
TESSA WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?
>> ON THE RIGHT IT IS A RACE AS
FAR AWAY FROM MITCH McCONNELL
AS THE CANDIDATES CAN POSITIONLY
GET.
POSSIBLY GET.
WE ARE SEEING ONE POTENTIAL
CANDIDATE NATE MORRIS HAS NOT
(25:44):
DECLARED.
THE ONLY PERSON WHO IS IS IN IS
DANIEL CAMERON AND ANDY BARR IS
SERIOUSLY LOOKING AT A RUN.
THE DEMOCRATS WE HAVE STATE REP
PAMELA STEVENSON WHO IS RUNNING
AND WE ARE HEARING THAT PEOPLE
ARE ENCOURAGING BESHEAR'S SENIOR
ADVISER ROCKY ADD KINS TO TAKE A
LOOK.
JESS LET US KNOW WHEN
(26:09):
JPCS MAKES A SUPERINTENDENT
DECISION.
WEATHER IS COMING IN.
KENTUCKIANS FAR AND WIDE ARE
REMEMBERING FORMER UNIVERSITY OF
LOUISVILLE BASKETBALL STAR
BRIDGEMAN HE PLAYED FOR 12
SEASONS IN THE NBA AND KNOWN AS
A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS LEADER
INVESTING IN FAST FOOD
(26:30):
RESTAURANTS, MAGAZINES AND MORE.
HE PASSED AWAY TUESDAY AT THE
AGE OF 71.
THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".
HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.
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